The postgraduate private trainee doctors on Saturday observed work abstention and demonstration on the premises of Central Shaheed Minar in the capital demanding their monthly allowance hike from Tk. 20,000 to Tk. 50,000.
The postgraduate trainee doctors under the banner of ‘Postgraduate Private Trainee Doctors Association’ also declared to go on a strike and blockade the Shahbagh intersection to press home their demand.
The protesting doctors from across the country will block the Shahbag intersection at 10:00 am today (Sunday). The announcement was made from the rally of Central Shaheed Minar.
The agitating trainee doctors had suspended their protest due to the possibility of meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and getting a solution to their problem. Despite assurances of a meeting, the agitating doctors found the promises lacking substance. So, a new blockade programme was announced at Shahbagh.
They announced that everyone will gather at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University at 9:00 am. They said they are determined not to leave without concrete assurances.
Earlier in the day, the protesting doctors initiated a strike at the entrance of Dhaka Medical College Hospital starting 10:30am on Saturday.
The doctors stated that they had temporarily suspended the blockade program in Shahbagh upon receiving assurances from the Prime Minister's Office. However, they were compelled to resume the strike. The program will continue until their demands are met.
The protesting doctors called for an indefinite strike from July 8, demanding higher allowances. They seek the prime minister's intervention, as their current allowance of Tk20,000, they say, fails to cover the extensive services they provide during their five-year postgraduate training.
